Buoyant powered swimming device

ABSTRACT

A buoyant device contoured on its upper surface to support the body of the user while permitting freedom of motion of the arms and legs. The lower side of the device is hydrodynamically streamlined taking into account the location of one or more propulsion devices located beneath the lower surfaces. Energy storage and control means are provided interior of the device and specially contoured propeller shrouds enhance efficiency.

United States Patent Vasilatos 1 Feb. 13, 1973 [54] BUOYANT POWERED SWIMMING [56] References Cited DEVICE UN1TED sTATEs PATENTS [75] Inventor: fir vas'lams wflmette 3,534,594 6/1971 Poutout ...115/6.1 3,543,712 12/1970 Vasilatos... ...l l5/6 1 7 V v Y 3,371,646 3/1968 Mela ..115/70 [73] Assignee: A. V./American Ventures, Inc., Village of Wilmette, "L Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Attorney-Jacque L. Meister [22] Filed: Nov. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 92,059 ABSTRACT A buoyant device contoured on its upper surface to support the body of the user while permitting freedom Related US. Application Data of motion of the arms and legs. The lower side of the [63] Continuatiomimpan of Ser No 765 360 Oct 7 device is hydrodynamically streamlined taking into ac- 1968 pm. No 3 543 712. '1 count the location of one or more propulsion devices located beneath the lower surfaces. Energy storage [52] Cl 115/6 1 and control means are provided interior of the device [51] Int Cl 21/5.6 and Specially contoured propeller Shrouds enhance ef 58 Field 01 Search 1l5/6.1, 70 ficlency' I 11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 1 3 I975 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTUR ANA sTAsms a. vasmxros ATTUR E 1 PATENTEUFEB13 ma 3,716,013

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTUR ANA S'Msms IVASILATOS ATTUR E9 BUOYANT POWERED SWIMMING DEVICEv plication of Anastasios J. Vasilatos, Ser. No. 765,360,

filed Oct. 7, 1968, titled BUOYANT SWIMMING AID, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,543,7 l 2, issued Dec. 1, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention generally relates to buoyant swimming aids and more particularly to improvements in powered, body contoured swimming aids.

In the aforementioned Vasilatos application, there is described a buoyant, body contoured swimming aid. Also described were certain propulsion means for the swimming aid; in particular, propulsion means mounted in venturi-shaped water conduits, the energy source for the propulsion means being electrical, gaseous and gas/chemical.

While the apparatus of the parent Vasilatos application solved many problems and in particular a buoyance distribution in direct relation to the body weight distribution of the user, its propulsion means was lacking in both maximum power output, and duration of powered operation compared to the expectations and desires of the users. Further, the venturi shaped tube, while efficient for high speed float operation, tended to become obstructed with floating debris and particularly seaweed and was quite difficult to clean or maintain clean as the consideration of efficiency would make desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved powered swimming aid contoured to match body contours and-simultaneously to improve both maximum power output and the duration thereof while maintaining or reducing overall weight of the improved aid compared to the prior art swimming aids.

In keeping with the these objects, inventive I swimming aid incorporates an upper surface and DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a three-quarter view of the inventive swimming aid with a swimmer shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a wiring schematic utilized in a controlsystem for electrically powered embodiments;

FIG. 3is a perspective view in partial section show ing mounting of a propulsion system in a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial view showing in detail the preferred method of. motor mountingfor the FIG. 3 embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a front viewof the swimming aid of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates in a bottom perspective view, the appearance of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

- FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates in partial section the mounting and connection of the motive power unit to its drive shafts and propellers;

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view in partial section of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view in partial section of the FIG. 9 embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a direct drive version of the FIG. 9 embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. 1-6 there is shown at 20 the swimming aid device of the invention. The position of a using swimmer is shown in phantom outline at 21. As in the parent Vasilatos application, the distribution of buoyancy is maintained substantially identical to the weight distribution of the torso, arms, and head of the swimmer. In keeping therewith, the sponson-like lateral stabilizers 24 and 25 on each side of the upper surface of the device and the axilla receiving contours 26 and 27 are substantially identical to those described in that application and for the identical reasons. However, since all embodiments of the present invention are powered devices, in certain instances the overall length of the device is lengthened somewhat to provide additional support for the pelvic region and upper thigh of the user. This slight lengthening still permits the kicking motions necessary for swimming but improves comfort and streamlining during powered operation.

As in the parent application, lateral stability with hydrodynamic streamlining is achieved by the use of long sweeping curves and through the use of two symmetrically opposite concave reliefs 31 and 32 running substantially from front to rear of the device to form three keel-like projections 33, 34, and 35 on the bottom surface. While the-lower surface of the hull is thus generally similar to the prior device, it is especially contoured to enable both increased hydrodynamic efficiency, and accommodation of the improved propulsion means of the invention.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate a principal embodiment of the invention which is adaptable to the use of either battery electric motor or, compressed gas-turbine operation. As shown twin drive devices 36 and 37 are suspended beneath the lower surface and respectively, in the deepest portion of the concave reliefs 31 and 32. The forward part of each drive device is streamlined and extending rearwardly from the drive device are drive shafts and propellers 38 and 39.

A feature of the invention are propeller shrouds 40 and 41 which simultaneously protect the propellers and swimmers from injury and additionally, are shaped to enhance streamlining and improve propeller efficiency by reducing cavitation effects and turbulence. This advantageous result is achieved by rounding the inlet side edge and maintaining propeller tip clearances minimal. The desirable results are further enhanced if the portion of the concave relief disposed opposite each shroud, is contoured as an extension of the shroud.

FIGS. 3 and 5 illustrate the arrangement of the drive devices and their stored energy sources. As there shown the drive device 36 is secured to mounting strut 42 and both depend beneath concave surface 31. Strut 31 is hollow and permits connection between the drive device 36 and energy source 43, which is mounted within a cavity 43 in stabilizer 25. Conventional compression type water seals prevent leakage from beneath surface 31 into cavity 43. Conduit 44 conducts energy from source 43 to drive device 36.

As can be appreciated, when drive device 36 is an electric motor, source 43 is a battery or battery/inverter, and conduit 44 is electrical wiring. For electrical drive systems DC motors and a simple rechargeable battery pack are presently preferred. However, the recent and continuing rapid reduction in the prices of integrated circuitry is making low cost inverters commercially feasible and with them, the use of AC motors. AC motors offer more compact higher power outputs than their DC equivalent.

When the drive device is a gas turbine the energy source 43 is either compressed gas or a gas generator. For the present time compressed gas storage is preferred to a gas generator since more compact, safe, and far less expensive. Liquified compressed gases are also used to increase the storage density when gas propulsion is utilized. Of course, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the drive device for this inventive embodiment, whether electric or gas, are duplicated, one being located beneath each stabilizer.

The control of the battery powered drive device is readily achieved as can be seen by reference to the electrical schematic of FIG. 2. A chin actuated on-off switch 45 first turns the motor on and off while further depression of the switch varies electrical resistance 46 and hence, speed of motor 36. Where gas propulsion is employed, switch 45 can be dispensed with and variable resistance 46 becomes a throttle valve for the turbine. Of course, the same control circuit can be used to control both of the drive devices of the FIG. 1-7 embodiment or, could be adapted to the control of the inventive embodiments of FIGS. 7-11 each of which employs but a single drive device. Further, in embodiments where the person controlling the power may not be the person aboard the swimming aid, additional switches are provided connected in parallel to the chin actuated switch. Such a need arises in both swimming instruction and, if the device device is used for life saving purposes.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of an inventive embodiment having but a single drive device but twin drive screws. As better shown in FIG. 8, the drive device 50 is located symmetrically in the forward part of the swimming aid. Affixed to its output shaft is drive pulley 51. Twin drive shafts 52 and 53 are disposed on opposite sides of the central keel approximately beneath the stabilizers 25 and 24, respectively, and are supported by plural pillow blocks 54. Interior of the swimming aid at their forward ends the drive shafts have affixed thereto pulleys 55 and 56 over which extend drive belts 57 and 58 to connect the shafts to drive pulley 51. For efficiency, drive belts 57 and 58 together with their associated pulleys are of the cogged variety commonly known as timing belts. As may be obvious, shafts 52 and 53 enter the interior of the swimming aid through packing glands (not shown) which maintain the-water seal between interior and exterior. Each of the stabilizers has disposed in its interior an energy source 59 which is connected to drive device 50 and which maybe controlled as described in connection with FIG. 2.

Another inventive embodiment with a single drive device is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, both of which are partial sections. In this embodiment there is but one screw and drive device; the drive device 60 being located interior of the swimming aid in a manner similar to that of FIG. 8. However, having but one screw and drive shaft 61, the shaft of this embodiment is located amidships and center keel is bifurcated to enable placement of the screw in a central concave relief 62. As shown, drive shaft 61 is advantageously a flexible shaft to permit operation without the complexity of universal or constant velocity joints.

Another single screw single motor embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 11 in partial section. As there shown, drive device 65 is mounted interior of the outlines of the central downward depending keellike ridge which is truncated to facilitate location of the drive device approximately amidships. As in the FIG. 3-6 embodiment, the drive device is however, located exterior of the swimming aid. This location simplifies sealing and eliminates the need and cost of packing glands for drive shafts extending into the interior of the swimming aid.

Among the severalembodiments shown and described herein each has some advantages over the others and over the powered swimming aids of the prior art. The swimming aid of FIGS. 3-6 provides the greatest power and attains the greatest speed with a minimum of sealing problems. The swimming aid of FIG. 7 and 8 is extremely efficient but because of space problems is somewhat lower in maximum power output than the FIG. 3-6 embodiment. Its efficiency is such, however, that it will far exceed the duration of powered operation achieved by the FIG. 3-6 embodiment.

The embodiments of FIGS. 9ll are both substantially cheaper to produce than either of the other embodiments, the embodiment of FIG. 11 being the least expensive. The embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 is however somewhat easier-to hand carry than that of FIG. 11 because of the motor location forward.

All of the devices are configured and filled as necessary to maintain the buoyancy of the device in direct relation to the weight disbribution of the user. In configuring the swimming aids, consideration is given to overall loaded weight distribution in the buoyant medium. As a result, in certain embodiments, it has been found desirable to locate the stored energy source forward and amidships, either instead of in the stabilizers or in addition thereto.

In manufacturing the swimming aids various techniques have proven useful. In the preferred method The invention has been described in detail herein with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a torso and head supporting buoyant swimming aid having a boat like lower hull having plural keel ridges extending longitudinally from bow to stern and having therebetween concave reliefs and a body contoured upper surface having a raised sponson-like lateral stabilizer on either side with depressions to accept the axilla of the prone user and a positive buoyancy in water substantially equal to the body weight distribution of the user, the improvement comprising propulsion means including a propeller suspended beneath said lower hull in the deepest portion of said concave reliefs, said propulsion means being disposed substantially at the rearmost extremity of said lower hull,

cavitation reducing shroud means closely fitting over the tips of each of said propeller means, said shroud means depending from and secured to said boat-like lower hull, and

stored energy source means connected to said propulsion means, said stored energy sources being disposed interior of said swimming aid.

2. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 1 wherein the portion of said concave reliefs disposed opposite each shroud are contoured as an extension of said shroud and the inlet side edge of said shroud is rounded.

3. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 2 wherein said propulsion means comprises electric motor means and said stored energy source means is a battery.

4. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 3 wherein said motor means is an AC motor and said energy storage source means includes inverter means.

5. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 2 wherein said propulsion means is a gas turbine and said stored energy source means is compressed gas.

6. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 2 wherein each of said propulsion means comprises drive shaft means extending interior of said boat-like lower hull and a single drive device belt connected to all of said drive shaft means.

7. In a torso and head supporting buoyant swimming aid having a boat-like lower hull having plural keel ridges including a central keel ridge extending longitu dinally from bow to stem and having therebetween concave reliefs and a body contoured upper surface having a raised sponson-like lateral stabilizer on either side with depressions to accept the axilla of the prone user and a positive buoyancy in water substantially equal to the body weight distribution of the user, the improvement comprising truncating said central keel ridge propulsion means including a drive device and a propeller centrally suspended beneath said lower hull, in alignment with said truncated central keel ridge saidpropulsion means being mounted exterior of said boat-like lower hull, and stored energy source means connected to said propulsion means, said stored energy sources being disposed interior of said swimming aid. 8. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 7 wherein said drive device is an electric motor and said stored energy source means is a battery.

9. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 7 wherein said drive device is a gas turbine and said stored energy source means is compressed gas.

10. In a torso and head supporting buoyant swimming aid having a boat-like lower hull having plural keel ridges including a central keel ridge extending longitudinally from bow to stem and having therebetween concave reliefs and a body contoured upper surface having a raised sponson-like lateral stabilizer on either side with depressions to accept the axilla of the prone user and a positive buoyancy in water substantially equal to the body weight distribution of the user, the improvement comprising truncating and bifurcating said central keel ridge to form a central concave relief in said lower hull,

propulsion means including a propeller centrally suspended beneath said lower hull, said propeller being positioned in and closely surrounded by said central concave relief,

cavitation reducing shroud means closely fitting over the tips of said propeller means, said shroud means depending from and secured to said boat-like lower hull, and

stored energy source means connected to said propulsion means, said stored energy source being disposed interior of said swimming aid.

11. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 10 wherein said propulsion means comprises flexible drive shaft means extending interior of said boat-like lower hull and a drive device affixed to said flexible drive shaft interior of said swimming aid. 

1. In a torso and head supporting buoyant swimming aid having a boat like lower hull having plural keel ridges extending longitudinally from bow to stern and having therebetween concave reliefs and a body contoured upper surface having a raised sponson-like lateral stabilizer on either side with depressions to accept the axilla of the prone user and a positive buoyancy in water substantially equal to the body weight distribution of the user, the improvement comprising propulsion means including a propeller suspended beneath said lower hull in the deepest portion of said concave reliefs, said propulsion means being disposed substantially at the rearmost extremity of said lower hull, cavitation reducing shroud means closely fitting over the tips of each of said propeller means, said shroud means depending from and secured to said boat-like lower hull, and stored energy source means connected to said propulsion means, said stored energy sources being disposed interior of said swimming aid.
 1. In a torso and head supporting buoyant swimming aid having a boat like lower hull having plural keel ridges extending longitudinally from bow to stern and having therebetween concave reliefs and a body contoured upper surface having a raised sponson-like lateral stabilizer on either side with depressions to accept the axilla of the prone user and a positive buoyancy in water substantially equal to the body weight distribution of the user, the improvement comprising propulsion means including a propeller suspended beneath said lower hull in the deepest portion of said concave reliefs, said propulsion means being disposed substantially at the rearmost extremity of said lower hull, cavitation reducing shroud means closely fitting over the tips of each of said propeller means, said shroud means depending from and secured to said boat-like lower hull, and stored energy source means connected to said propulsion means, said stored energy sources being disposed interior of said swimming aid.
 2. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 1 wherein the portion of said concave reliefs disposed opposite each shroud are contoured as an extension of said shroud and the inlet side edge of said shroud is rounded.
 3. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 2 wherein said propulsion means comprises electric motor means and said stored energy source means is a battery.
 4. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 3 wherein said motor means is an AC motor and said energy storage source means includes inverter means.
 5. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 2 wherein said propulsion means is a gas turbine and said stored energy source means is compressed gas.
 6. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 2 wherein each Of said propulsion means comprises drive shaft means extending interior of said boat-like lower hull and a single drive device belt connected to all of said drive shaft means.
 7. In a torso and head supporting buoyant swimming aid having a boat-like lower hull having plural keel ridges including a central keel ridge extending longitudinally from bow to stern and having therebetween concave reliefs and a body contoured upper surface having a raised sponson-like lateral stabilizer on either side with depressions to accept the axilla of the prone user and a positive buoyancy in water substantially equal to the body weight distribution of the user, the improvement comprising truncating said central keel ridge propulsion means including a drive device and a propeller centrally suspended beneath said lower hull, in alignment with said truncated central keel ridge said propulsion means being mounted exterior of said boat-like lower hull, and stored energy source means connected to said propulsion means, said stored energy sources being disposed interior of said swimming aid.
 8. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 7 wherein said drive device is an electric motor and said stored energy source means is a battery.
 9. An improved swimming aid in accord with claim 7 wherein said drive device is a gas turbine and said stored energy source means is compressed gas.
 10. In a torso and head supporting buoyant swimming aid having a boat-like lower hull having plural keel ridges including a central keel ridge extending longitudinally from bow to stern and having therebetween concave reliefs and a body contoured upper surface having a raised sponson-like lateral stabilizer on either side with depressions to accept the axilla of the prone user and a positive buoyancy in water substantially equal to the body weight distribution of the user, the improvement comprising truncating and bifurcating said central keel ridge to form a central concave relief in said lower hull, propulsion means including a propeller centrally suspended beneath said lower hull, said propeller being positioned in and closely surrounded by said central concave relief, cavitation reducing shroud means closely fitting over the tips of said propeller means, said shroud means depending from and secured to said boat-like lower hull, and stored energy source means connected to said propulsion means, said stored energy source being disposed interior of said swimming aid. 